Dr. Katie Seaborn is a Visitor and incoming Associate Professor, joining the Department of Computer Science and Technology (CST) at the University of Cambridge in February 2026. Currently, Dr. Seaborn is Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Economics (IEE), Associate Faculty Member in the Engineering Sciences and Design (ESD) program, and Director of the Aspirational Computing Lab (established 2020) at Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology). From February 2026, Dr. Seaborn will hold a Visiting Associate Professor position (特定准教授) at Science Tokyo.
Before academia, Dr. Seaborn worked in the public and private sectors as an interaction designer, user experience developer, and web programmer in Canada and the UK.
Positions held and selected history:
- 2026 Associate Professor, University of Cambridge
- 2025~ Visiting Associate Professor, Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech)
- 2020-2024 Visiting Researcher, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP)
- 2018-2021 Honorary Researcher, UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), University College London (UCL)
- 2020-26 National University Associate Professor, Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech)
- 2019-20 Postdoctoral Researcher, RIKEN AIP; Co-operative Research Fellow, The University of Tokyo
- 2018-19 JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Tokyo
- 2017-18 Research Fellow, UCLIC, UCL
- 2016 Ph.D. in Human Factors with a Collaborative Specialization in Knowledge Media Design (KMDI), Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE), The University of Toronto
- 2011 M.Sc. in Interactive Arts + Technology, School of Interactive Arts + Technology (SIAT), Simon Fraser University (SFU)
- 2009 B.A. in Media Arts, SIAT, SFU
Selected community service:
- 2025~ Special Issue Editor, ACM THRI
- 2025-26 Works-in-Progress Chair, ACM CHI PLAY 2026
- 2025-26 Provocations Chair, ACM CUI 2026
- 2024-25 Associate Editor, ACM THRI
- 2024~ Steering Committee, ACM Critical Computing Conference
- 2024-25 Publications Chair, ACM CHI 2025
- 2022~ Associate Chair (AC), ACM CHI (2023~)
- 2024 Committee Member, ACM Site Selection Working Group
- 2023 Demo Chair, IEEE Conference on Games (CoG 2023)
- 2023 Associate Chair, ACM CHI PLAY 2023
- 2022-23 Perspectives on Play Co-Creator and Chair, ACM CHI PLAY 2022-23
Teaching:
- Every Spring Computers in Japanese Society and Beyond・日本社会におけるコンピュータとその後, International Center・国際センター, Keio University
- Yearly in Q3 IEE.C306: Prototyping UX・ユーザーエクスペリエンスのプロトタイピング, Undergraduate, IEE, Science Tokyo
- Yearly in Q4 IEE.D435: Computers in Society・社会とコンピュータ, Graduate, IEE, Science Tokyo